2 Responses to “Asparagus, glutathione and cancer”

Glutathione is a small protein produced naturally in our cells when certain required elements are present. It functions both as an antioxidant and an antitoxin and is a major defense system against illness and aging. Our glutathione level actually indicates our state of health and can predict longevity. There are more than 60,000 published papers on the beneficial effects of it. In the near future the importance of it will be widely recognized because it has the ability to boost the immune system and fight off the damage of free radicals on the cells. Various daily activities can reduce your glutathione such as stress, exercise, infection, injury and environmental toxins. Your body’s natural defense against aging and cellular damage decreases by about 10% to 15% every decade!*

Modern research has shown that individuals who have low levels of glutathione are susceptible to chronic illness . Decreased levels can be brought about by continual stress upon the immune system. As we now know, a lowered immune system can bring about illness and disease. This is a ferocious cycle. While you need it for a productive immune system, a weakened immune system hampers the production of glutathione.

Glutathione levels might be high in asparagus, but eating it does not meaan alot of it will be absorbed by the body. Glutathione is a type of protein and proteins are partially degraded in the stomach. This would inactivate the glutathione and make it less useful. A better way would be to take an enteric coated glutathione tablet – this way the stoamch acid won’t destroy the glutathione. But if you jhave cancer and are taking chemotherapy drugs, you DO NOT WANT to eat or take anything that would increase glutathione levels during chemotherapy because that would make the chemotherapy less effective. The glutathione being a detoxifying agent would kick out the chemo drug out of the cancer cell which you don’t want.